15 informal gestures of drivers that are not in traffic rules

Light signals

1. Short flashing of the emergency light

What it looks like: Both direction indicators flash once or two or three times.
Which means: gratitude or apology.

The most common gesture. Usually used to express gratitude to other road users who gave you the road or slowed down, allowing you to change lanes in heavy traffic.

Another meaning is apology. If someone was accidentally cut off or otherwise acted incorrectly, then by blinking the emergency light, you can show other drivers that you regret your behavior and ask them not to be angry.

2. Long flashing of the emergency gang

What it looks like: Both direction indicators flash for a few seconds.
Which means: warning.

Such a signal, as a rule, informs about the danger on the road. The driver of the car in front slows down and at the same time flashes the hazard warning light if he wants to warn about an accident or an obstacle on the road that he has already noticed, but you still do not see. In addition, sometimes they wave their hand from the window.

Another option is to show that you are going to stop. In this case, first turn on the right turn, and then flash the emergency lights. So you can make it clear to the car behind you that you are not rebuilding, but will stop.

3. Short flashing headlights

What it looks like: single or double flash.
Which means: giving an advantage - “pass, give way”.

The headlights are flashing, as a rule, in the city. At an intersection or in a traffic jam, other drivers may give this signal, indicating that they are letting you through at the exit from a parking lot, a minor road, or when changing lanes. You can confirm that you understand them by nodding your head or raising your hand. In response, the emergency gang is usually always blinking.

Also, this gesture can be used at a crossing, letting insecure pedestrians know that you see them and let them pass.

4. Long flashing headlights

What it looks like: continuous flashes, sometimes with a sound signal.
Which means: warning of danger or asking to give way.

Oncoming cars flash when drivers want to warn of an accident on the road, a hidden obstacle or a traffic police post. Seeing such a signal, you need to slow down and be more careful. In the dark, with this gesture, drivers indicate that you are blinding them, and ask them to switch to low beam headlights.

The cars walking behind blink their head optics, expressing a request to give way to overtake or change lanes. In the same way, you can ask other participants in the stream to give up the lane when you leave the courtyards or from the parking lot.

5. Flashing dimensions

What it looks like: The tailgate switches on and off a couple of times.
Which means: a call to keep your distance.

When someone is rubbing too close behind, you can simulate the action of the brake lights by intermittently switching on the dimensions. A missed driver will mistake them for a brake signal and instinctively increase the distance.

6. Flashing left or right turn signals

What it looks like: turning on the turn signal.
Which means: "do not overtake, dangerous" or "free, overtake."

To make it easier to overtake large trucks, their drivers often give directions on the road. Being in a high cabin, they see much farther and, when trying to overtake, they report with the help of turn signals whether the oncoming lane in front is free.

If you start overtaking the slow-moving vehicle and you see that he suddenly turned on the left turn, return to the previous position and wait. As soon as there is a free space on the oncoming lane, the truck driver will report this by flashing the right turn signal. Feel free to overtake and do not forget to thank with the help of the emergency gang.

Sound signals

According to the rules, sound signals are prohibited in settlements. The only exceptions are cases when it is necessary to prevent an accident. Nevertheless, drivers use a horn, even though this is an administrative offense.

7. Short light signal

Used to attract attention. For example, to identify yourself in front of a car leaving the parking lot, the driver of which may not notice you.

8. Two medium signals

Thus, impatient drivers express a request to go faster.

9. Normal signal

Outside the city, truckers use it as "please" or "not for anything" in response to your "thank you" emergency gang. Usually in situations where the truck driver lets you pass and you thank him.

Hand gestures

In addition to light and sound signals, the system of hand gestures is also actively used on the roads for communication. As a rule, first attracting attention with a short beep. Among such gestures there are symbols, the meaning of which is not always clear.

10. Circle

When the driver draws a circle in the air with his index finger, it indicates that one of your wheels is deflated. Sometimes they use the minuscule gesture instead and point to a specific wheel.

11. Raised hand

Greeting or gratitude symbol. With this gesture, they often respond to warnings or other signals from neighbors in the stream, using it instead of flashing an emergency light.

12. Air blow

When a passing driver pretends to blow with the palm of his hand pointing down in the air, he informs you of an open trunk or hood.

13. Applied to the chest hand

A gesture of apology, which is used when a person has done something wrong or behaved incorrectly on the road towards others.

14. Pat on the shoulder

Depicting shoulder straps in this way, traffic participants warn of a nearby traffic police post.

15. Fig

A finger folded with a finger usually warns truck or large bus drivers that a stone is stuck between the paired wheels of one of the axles. This is a potential hazard to vehicles driving behind.

Do not forget that these are all unspoken signs that are not in the rules. They do not commit to anything and only express wishes. They do not have to be used, and in the case of unpleasant situations, informal gestures cannot serve as an excuse. Only you are responsible for your actions!